Skip to main content

1996

San Antonio River Walk & Flood Control System
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Water Supply & Control Era: 1930-1949 DateCreated: 1929-1941 San Antonio State: TX Zip: 78205 Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/San-Antonio-River-Walk---Flood-Control-System/ Creator: Hugman, Robert H.H., Arneson, Edward P.

San Antonio's River Walk, a catalyst for abundant commercial and tourism enterprise, is generally regarded by cities and urban planners throughout the world as a prototype for the development of urban riverfront sites. The River Walk's success, however, would not have been possible without a series of flood-control and architecture projects completed in the first half of the 20th century that relied heavily on civil-engineering expertise. 

YearAdded:
1996
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Tim Pearce (CC BY 2.0) Image Caption: San antonio texas river walk 2011 riverwalk Era_date_from: 1929
Dublin-Belfast Rail Link
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Rail Transportation Era: 1840-1849 DateCreated: 1842-1855 Dublin to Belfast State: Zip: Country: Ireland Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Dublin-Belfast-Rail-Link/ Creator:

The Dublin to Belfast Rail Link established a vital connection between the capitals of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The line's most notable engineering feature was the 1,760-foot-long Boyne Bridge; it represented one of the earliest uses of calculated stresses, the first large-scale use of wrought iron latticed girders, and the first full scale test of continuous beams. Tests performed on the wrought iron columns and struts were published and provided invaluable information for engineers who would design similar structures in the future. 

YearAdded:
1996
Image Credit: Courtesy Wikipedia/Henry Clark Image Caption: The Dublin to Belfast Rail Link established a vital connection between the capitals of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Era_date_from: 1842
City Plan of Philadelphia
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Structures Era: 1600s DateCreated: 1682 Philadelphia State: PA Zip: undefined Country: USA Website: https://www.asce.org/project/city-plan-of-philadelphia/ Creator:

The City Plan of Philadelphia is a seminal creation in American city planning in that it was the first American City Plan to provide open public squares for the free enjoyment of the community and a gridiron street pattern featuring streets of varying widths: wide main streets and narrower side streets. In addition this plan was the first city plan in the United States to provide for long-term urban growth. These features inspired the planners of many cities to adopt the Philadelphia Plan as a model. 

YearAdded:
1996
Image Credit: Courtesy Wikipedia/Dogears Image Caption: The City Plan of Philadelphia pioneered many features of American city planning. Era_date_from: 1682
Williams-Miles History of Chemistry Collection
Society: ACS Main Category: Chemical Sub Category: Cradles of Chemistry Era: 1890-1899 DateCreated: Brackett Library Searcy State: AR Zip: 72143 Country: USA Website: http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_SUPERARTICLE&node_id=760&use_sec=false&sec_url_var=region1&__uuid=f42addef-aaae-4d38-a0d9-841ae6f3cc1d, https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/williams-milescollection/williams-miles-chemistry-collection-at-harding-university-commemorative-booklet.pdf Creator: Miles, Wyndham , National Institutes of Health

The Williams-Miles History of Chemistry Collection, established in 1992, is one of the leading historical collections of chemistry books in the southern United States. It represents a combined 70 years of scholarly collecting by Wyndham D. Miles, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, and William D. Williams, Professor of Chemistry at Harding University. More than 2,000 volumes published between 1600 and 1900 are preserved here; the collection is particularly strong in 19th-century works.

YearAdded:
1996
Image Credit: Courtesy ACS Image Caption: Williams-Miles History of Chemistry Collection at Harding University Era_date_from:
Kentucky Dam
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Dams Era: 1940-1949 DateCreated: 1944 Tennessee River Grand River State: KY Zip: 42045 Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Kentucky-Dam/ Creator: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

In 1930, the U.S. Corps of Engineers was directed to complete an engineering survey of the Tennessee River to determine the feasibility of establishing complete river navigability. The resulting report recommended a series of nine main river dams and several tributary dams to allow for a minimum eight foot channel (standard for barge navigation) from Knoxville to Paducah.

YearAdded:
1996
Image Credit: Courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District (CC BY-ND 2.0) Image Caption: Kentucky Dam Era_date_from: 1944
SS Badger Carferry
Society: ASME Main Category: Mechanical Sub Category: Water Transportation Era: 1950-1959 DateCreated: 1952 Lake Michigan Ludington State: MI Zip: 49431 Country: USA Website: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/history/landmarks/topics-m-z/water-transportation/-191-ss-badger-carferry-%281952%29 Creator: Christy Corporation, Skinner Engine Company

The two 3,500-hp steeple compound Unaflow steam engines powering the S.S. Badger represent one of the last types of reciprocating marine steam engines. Built by the Skinner Engine Company, most Unaflow engines are single expansion. These feature tandem high- and low-pressure cylinders separated by a common head. The Badger's four Foster-Wheeler Type D marine boilers, which supply 470-psig steam to the engines, are among the last coal-fired marine boilers built. 

YearAdded:
1996
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/ssbadger (CC BY 2.0) Image Caption: SS Badger Carferry Era_date_from: 1952
NASA Ames Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel
Society: ASME Main Category: Mechanical Sub Category: Research and Development Era: 1950-1959 DateCreated: 1956 NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field State: CA Zip: 94035 Country: USA Website: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/history/landmarks/topics-m-z/research-and-development/-187-nasa-ames-unitary-plan-wind-tunnel-%281956%29 Creator:

This wind tunnel complex was developed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NASA's predecessor) to serve the emerging need for supersonic research and development following World War II. The three-testing-section configuration covers Mach number .03-3.5 and utilizes a single common drive and two compressors.

YearAdded:
1996
Image Credit: Public Domain (NASA) Image Caption: NASA Ames Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel Era_date_from: 1956
Montgomery Glider Replica
Society: ASME Main Category: Mechanical Sub Category: Air and Space Transportation Era: 1880-1889 DateCreated: 1883 601 Skyway San Carlos State: CA Zip: 94070 Country: USA Website: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/history/landmarks/topics-a-l/air-and-space-transportation/-189-montgomery-glider-%281883%29, https://www.asme.org/getmedia/ee5a9313-188d-40ad-83fd-12909179fafd/189-Montgomery-Glider.aspx Creator: Montgomery, John

The glider was the first heavier-than-air human-carrying aircraft to achieve controlled piloted flight. On his first successful flight, August 28, 1883, John Montgomery soared at about 600 feet. The Montgomery glider's success demonstrated aerodynamic principles and designs fundamental to the modern aircraft.

YearAdded:
1996
Image Credit: Image Caption: Montgomery Glider replica, International Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, 1996, original glider by John Joseph Montgomery, 1883 - Hiller Aviation Museum - San Carlos, California Era_date_from: 1883
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Roads & Rails Era: BC DateCreated: 2575-2137 BC Lake Moeris Faiyum District State: Zip: Country: Egypt Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Lake-Moeris-Quarry-Road/ Creator: Ancient Egyptians

The Lake Moeris Quarry Road, in the Faiyum District of Eygpt, is the oldest road in the world of which a considerable part of its original pavement is still preserved. This road was used to help transport the heavy blocks of basalt from the quarry 43 miles southwest of Cairo to the royal sarcophagi and pavements for the mortuary temples at Giza just outside Cairo. The road covered the 7.5 miles from the quarry to Lake Moeris which, at that time, was 66 ft above sea level.

YearAdded:
1996
Image Credit: Image Caption: Lake Moeris Quarry Road Era_date_from: 2575
Society: ASME Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Agriculture Era: 1900-1909 DateCreated: 1903 Charles City State: IA Zip: Country: USA Website: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/history/landmarks/topics-a-l/agriculture/-190-hart-parr-tractor-%281903%29 Creator: Hart, Charles Walter
This landmark artifact represents the first commercially successful farm tractor in the world powered by an internal-combustion engine. It was invented and built by Charles W. Hart and Charles H. Parr in Charles City, Iowa, as their Model 3, following two prototype versions.
YearAdded:
1996
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Norbert Schnitzler (CC BY-SA 2.0) Image Caption: Hart Parr Tractor Era_date_from: 1903
Subscribe to 1996
Thermo King© C Refrigeration Unit

The refrigeration units placed on trucks in 1938 by Thermo King Corp. revolutionized the transportation of perishable foods. Today they are a common sight on streets everywhere. Consumer demand for meat, poultry, produce and dairy products increased at an astounding rate. These installations and…

Read More
Armour-Swift-Burlington Bridge

Work began in 1887 on the high-level truss "Winner Bridge" crossing the Missouri River at Kansas City. The piers were completed in 1890, but for financial reasons the project was suspended. John Alexander Low Waddell, renowned civil engineer, prepared an alternate design for a lift bridge in…

Read More
Garfield Thomas Water Tunnel

The Garfield Thomas Water Tunnel is a unique experimental facility for hydrodynamic research and testing. The 48-inch (1.2-meter) diameter water tunnel enables the research staff to conduct basic and applied investigations in the fields of cavitation, hydroacoustics, turbulence, transition,…

Read More
This landmark artifact represents the first commercially successful farm tractor in the world powered by an internal-combustion engine. It was invented and built by Charles W. Hart and Charles H. Parr in Charles City, Iowa, as their Model 3, following two prototype versions. Major accomplishments… Read More

The Lake Moeris Quarry Road, in the Faiyum District of Eygpt, is the oldest road in the world of which a considerable part of its original pavement is still preserved. This road was used to help transport the heavy blocks of basalt from the quarry 43 miles southwest of Cairo to the royal…

Read More
Montgomery Glider Replica

The glider was the first heavier-than-air human-carrying aircraft to achieve controlled piloted flight. On his first successful flight, August 28, 1883, John Montgomery soared at about 600 feet. The Montgomery glider's success demonstrated aerodynamic principles and designs fundamental to the…

Read More
NASA Ames Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel

This wind tunnel complex was developed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NASA's predecessor) to serve the emerging need for supersonic research and development following World War II. The three-testing-section configuration covers Mach number .03-3.5 and utilizes a single…

Read More
SS Badger Carferry

The two 3,500-hp steeple compound Unaflow steam engines powering the S.S. Badger represent one of the last types of reciprocating marine steam engines. Built by the Skinner Engine Company, most Unaflow engines are single expansion. These feature tandem high- and low-pressure cylinders separated…

Read More
Kentucky Dam

In 1930, the U.S. Corps of Engineers was directed to complete an engineering survey of the Tennessee River to determine the feasibility of establishing complete river navigability. The resulting report recommended a series of nine main river dams and several tributary dams to allow for a minimum…

Read More
Williams-Miles History of Chemistry Collection

The Williams-Miles History of Chemistry Collection, established in 1992, is one of the leading historical collections of chemistry books in the southern United States. It represents a combined 70 years of scholarly collecting by Wyndham D. Miles, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland…

Read More
City Plan of Philadelphia

The City Plan of Philadelphia is a seminal creation in American city planning in that it was the first American City Plan to provide open public squares for the free enjoyment of the community and a gridiron street pattern featuring streets of varying widths: wide main streets and narrower side…

Read More
Dublin-Belfast Rail Link

The Dublin to Belfast Rail Link established a vital connection between the capitals of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The line's most notable engineering feature was the 1,760-foot-long Boyne Bridge; it represented one of the earliest uses of calculated stresses, the first…

Read More
San Antonio River Walk & Flood Control System

San Antonio's River Walk, a catalyst for abundant commercial and tourism enterprise, is generally regarded by cities and urban planners throughout the world as a prototype for the development of urban riverfront sites. The River Walk's success, however, would not have been possible without a…

Read More

We hope you enjoyed this essay.

Please support this 70-year tradition of trusted historical writing and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to American Heritage.

Donate

Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter.
The subscriber's email address.